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Brubaker (1980)

R | | Crime, Drama | 20 June 1980 (USA)
Brubaker Poster
The new warden of a small prison farm in Arkansas tries to clean it up of corruption after initially posing as an inmate.

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (story) | 3 more credits »

Stars:

, , | See full cast & crew »
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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win. See more awards »

Photos

19 photos | 34 news articles »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
...
...
Walter
...
Tim McIntire ...
Richard Ward ...
...
...
...
Linda Haynes ...
...
...
See full cast »
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Storyline

When the new warden comes in disguised as an inmate, he sees firsthand all the corruption and scams the guards and prison officials are running. When he reveals himself and starts to implement reforms to stop the corruption, the local business community, who had been benefiting from the scams, fights back, and the corrupt prison system starts making political trouble for the new warden. Written by Brian W Martz <B.Martz@Genie.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

corruption | prison | abuse | prison farm | surname as title | See All (37) »

Taglines:

The most wanted man in Wakefield prison is the warden! See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

20 June 1980 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

As Grades do Inferno  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$37,100,000 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

One of two Robert Redford movies released in 1980 that were Oscar-nominated. This film was an Academy Award nominee for Best Original Screenplay, while the other movie (Ordinary People (1980)) received six Oscar nominations. See more »

Goofs

When Brubaker is eating a '70s-style TV dinner, multiple items change position/orientation in successive cuts. Specifically, the Tar-Tar sauce jar (closed/opened) and the bag of vegetables (changes position). See more »

Quotes

Roy Purcell: Roy. Roy. Do I get the desk job?
Roy Purcell: You want a desk job, huh? I got a desk job for ya.
Roy Purcell: [opens phone book]
Roy Purcell: Spell "opthamology".
Roy Purcell: Say WHAT?
Roy Purcell: [tosses book and walks away] Jesus.
See more »

Connections

Features Rollerball (1975) See more »

Soundtracks

Respect
(uncredited)
Written by Otis Redding
Performed by Morgan Freeman when he attacks another inmate
See more »

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User Reviews

 
The best prison picture ever
16 June 2005 | by (Buffalo, New York) – See all my reviews

Though Shawshank Redemption has gotten the critical raves and the box office receipts that could make it the best prison story ever filmed, my personal choice for the best film ever done about the penal system is Brubaker.

Based on the true life experiences of Thomas Murton, the co-author of the book the film is based on, Brubaker captures the realities of prison life, the complexities of trying to "reform" the system without sacrificing one iota of entertainment.

Robert Redford leads a great ensemble cast in this film. The people here are real, dealing with complex issues for which there are no simple answers. The corruption of the penal system runs deep and helped in part by the prisoners themselves who don't want to see too much change at once or have a vested interest in seeing things run just as they are. Yaphetto Kotto and Tim McIntire are two such prison trustees, both of them showing very different reasons why they don't like some or all of what Redford is doing as warden.

Among the supporting cast, I'd like to single out David Keith who was the best as the prisoner whose life Brubaker saves and ultimately becomes his biggest booster in the joint. A really outstanding job by David Keith as this simple country kid who just got caught up in "the system."

Rare you can say a film is informative as well as entertaining, but Brubaker definitely fits in both categories.
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